First Lead Yourself
There’s a quiet, unseen war happening in the hearts of leaders everywhere. Not the kind that makes headlines. The kind that hides behind busyness, performance, hurry, and output. It’s the battle to lead yourself well.
Before you lead a team, a church, a group, or even your own family—you need to lead yourself.
And that doesn’t mean scheduling more, listening to longer podcasts, or reading better books. It means getting real with God. Asking hard questions. Facing what's underneath.
The greatest leaders I’ve known aren’t the most gifted. They’re the most surrendered. They’ve made peace with living in obscurity if that’s what obedience requires. They’ve stopped needing the spotlight, applause, or recognition because they’ve found something deeper: integrity in the secret place.
It’s not about appearing strong—it’s about actually being strong. Quiet strength. Inner resolve. Spirit-led conviction.
This kind of leadership only grows through regular rhythms of reading God’s Word, reflection, and repentance. Daily. Weekly. Quarterly. Especially when no one’s looking.
Try asking God these four questions:
Where am I off-course?
Who do I need to reconcile with?
Where is my pride or ego getting in the way?
Am I still following you Jesus… or just managing ministry?
If you’re honest, those questions will surface things you’d rather avoid. But that’s where the gold is. The answers are where the growth is.
Jesus led with unmatched authority—but only because he lived in perfect submission to the Father. The Son could do nothing apart from the Father (John 5:19), and he didn’t just say it—he lived it. He woke up early to pray. He withdrew often to be alone. He laid down power and picked up a towel.
We don’t need more influencers. We need more leaders who start in the secret place.
The Old Testament gives us a similar warning and invitation. Proverbs 4:23 CSB says, "Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life." Not your gifting. Not your reputation. Not your possessions. Your heart. Your heart will either overflow with Kingdom impact—or poison everything you touch.
Apostle Paul echoes this in his letter to Timothy, charging him (and us) to “Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:16 CSB). That kind of leadership isn’t built overnight. It’s forged through small, faithful decisions when nobody’s watching.
So here’s our challenge:
Don’t just check your calendar. Check your soul.
Don’t just manage your responsibilities. Steward your character.
Don’t just teach others to follow Jesus. Make sure you’re fully following him first.
This is where it starts. Always.
Let’s be leaders who live surrendered. That’s where the Kingdom flows.
Action Step: Take 15 minutes today—just you and God. Read one chapter in the Bible. If you have a plan already, keep going. If you need to start, begin in Matthew today. Then pray through those four questions above. Write down how you sense God leading you in this way. Then let it shape your next move today.
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